Three days later, after Odessa was buried alongside the 40 Greeks she had slaughtered, Princess Sparta was safe at home with Amarra, Kayla, Jessa, Scotia, Iona, Ia, Johanna, Katara and La Scoffa, who had escorted the brokenhearted child safely back to the Royal Palace, where they each vowed to raise Thera's daughter and care for her as if they were her own mother. Admiral Vasha sailed with his three war ships and the 560 Spartan warriors under General La Quint's command. Lucia Vega and Lacuna delighted in removing Odessa's severed head from the goatskin pouch filled with ouzo; which served to preserve the macabre trophy of war. All were proud of the destruction they had accomplished in Argolis and they were looking forward to meeting up with King Vyakles and bring him the good news of his daughters rescue, along with the head of the murderous, spurious Queen of Themiscyra.
On the far eastern shores of the Black Sea, Vyakles had tried to rest aboard his ship but his dreams were all haunted by the memory of his dead wife. So while he waited anxiously for Admiral Vasha's arrival he could be found pacing back and forth upon the decks of his trireme scanning the sandy beach for any sign of Themiscyran scouts. Now far of to the west 100 war ships sailed into view in the cove and the guards all along the watch towers were in awe of the Greek Armada anchored about a mile off the coast, just out of reach of their deadly arrows. Word of the massive Spartan presence was sent quickly to the Queen's Commander, War Councilor Cheveria, who ruled in her daughter Odessa's absence. She herself was shocked by the information, knowing deep in her heart her daughter, Odessa, must have surely failed her mission and was, most likely, dead. With a deep well of pain and bitterness in her stomach Chevria called upon the strength of her ancestors to fill her with courage, for she was a seasoned veteran of hundreds of victorious battles so she called her captains to council and they hurried to muster some 20,000 troops to ready themselves for war. The phalanx, light infantry, cavalry, charioteers, and skilled archers moved to assemble behind the western and southern gates, completely unaware of the presence of King Vyakles and his war ships far off the the east. Cheveria assumed the Spartans would land on the shore in an attempt to breech the walls, at which time she would order the gates to be opened an unleash a brutal onslaught of her well trained, battle hardened warriors, but until such a time as the Spartans made their move the Themiscyrans would just have to wait. However Cheveria and her captains of war had no knowledge that Lacuna and Lucia Vega were sailing ever closer to betray their former nation and give up the secret to breaching the ancient and impregnable walls of the fortress Nation of Themiscyra. So it was, the women warriors stood guard upon the miles of walls, nervous in their citadels, waiting for any sign of movement from the Greek ships and they were made more anxious as the day progressed into night and no movement came as the sun went down that cloudy and rainy day.
In the wee hours of that moonless night Admiral Vasha's ships came into view pulling up alongside the King of Sparta's vessel. In a moment of sheer pleasure the distraught King's heart was lifted as he boarded Admiral Vasha's trireme and he was overcome with joy when he was informed of his daughter's rescue and the complete slaughter of Odessa and her women. Now when General La Quint presented Vyakles with the severed head of Odessa the King became ecstatic and Lacuna and Lucia Vega noticed a few tears of happiness roll down his cheek so pleased was he. Holding the dead head, drained of life and light, Vyakles held it up by the blood soaked braids and smiled whispering face to face "Justice is Death for you Odessa, no more will you rise up against my nation or my family, no longer shall you fight." here he turned and gazed at General La Quint with a smile upon his face. "You have served myself, and Queen Thera, well, by killing this woman who in a cowardice act of brutality murdered my wife. You all, working together, with the violence of your hands, have brought a great satisfaction to my troubled heart. Such loyalty has made your King very proud." Vyakles congratulated his men then he placed Odessa's head on the end of a spear lifting it high above him for all aboard the ships and those camped upon the shore to see. "The murderer Odessa is dead!" here a cheer rose up from his hundreds of men gathered there. Then he took the macabre trophy of war placing it back in the goatskin pouch slinging it over his shoulder, for he would carry it out into battle as a talisman. Then he took in deep sigh of relief as he went over to Lacuna and Lucia Vega embracing them close to his broad chest, kissing them both upon the cheek. "Our Queen would be proud of your actions, as proud as I am pleased."
"We shall prove our faith and loyalty to you and your family by more than word of mouth." Lucia Vega whispered in the great King's ear allowing the happiness she felt to melt away a little of the bitterness of her heart.
Here Vyakles returned his attention to his army of men standing on the beach yelling out loudly above the roar of the crashing waves "Spartans!" he shouted his teeth glistening like fangs "We are a warring people! We through the centuries have learned that killing is never easy! But there is work to be done, this nation of Themiscyra must! Nay! THEY WILL BE ANNIHILATED! We shall.., to honor our most beloved Queen Thera, we will subject this barbarian nation to the force and might of our armed aggression! We shall put all of Themiscyra's inhabitants to the sword and destroy them all with fire. The utter destruction of this civilization is our first priority!" again a thunderous cheer rose up from all the King's men as Vyakles smiled with fiery rage burning in his dark eyes gazing off to the west, where the guards along the eastern gate were completely unaware of his presence for they were too distracted by the threat of the Greek warships out to the south and west. "Let us eat and rest ourselves this cold autumn evening and, before dawn arises, we shall go out and wage our bloody, violent war against the Themiscyrans! We, together, will wipe this race of warrior women from off the face of the Earth! We shall blot out this civilization from the records of history forever! We shall destroy them all, so no one living, or those yet to be born, will ever no that these women even existed!"
On the far eastern shores of the Black Sea, Vyakles had tried to rest aboard his ship but his dreams were all haunted by the memory of his dead wife. So while he waited anxiously for Admiral Vasha's arrival he could be found pacing back and forth upon the decks of his trireme scanning the sandy beach for any sign of Themiscyran scouts. Now far of to the west 100 war ships sailed into view in the cove and the guards all along the watch towers were in awe of the Greek Armada anchored about a mile off the coast, just out of reach of their deadly arrows. Word of the massive Spartan presence was sent quickly to the Queen's Commander, War Councilor Cheveria, who ruled in her daughter Odessa's absence. She herself was shocked by the information, knowing deep in her heart her daughter, Odessa, must have surely failed her mission and was, most likely, dead. With a deep well of pain and bitterness in her stomach Chevria called upon the strength of her ancestors to fill her with courage, for she was a seasoned veteran of hundreds of victorious battles so she called her captains to council and they hurried to muster some 20,000 troops to ready themselves for war. The phalanx, light infantry, cavalry, charioteers, and skilled archers moved to assemble behind the western and southern gates, completely unaware of the presence of King Vyakles and his war ships far off the the east. Cheveria assumed the Spartans would land on the shore in an attempt to breech the walls, at which time she would order the gates to be opened an unleash a brutal onslaught of her well trained, battle hardened warriors, but until such a time as the Spartans made their move the Themiscyrans would just have to wait. However Cheveria and her captains of war had no knowledge that Lacuna and Lucia Vega were sailing ever closer to betray their former nation and give up the secret to breaching the ancient and impregnable walls of the fortress Nation of Themiscyra. So it was, the women warriors stood guard upon the miles of walls, nervous in their citadels, waiting for any sign of movement from the Greek ships and they were made more anxious as the day progressed into night and no movement came as the sun went down that cloudy and rainy day.
In the wee hours of that moonless night Admiral Vasha's ships came into view pulling up alongside the King of Sparta's vessel. In a moment of sheer pleasure the distraught King's heart was lifted as he boarded Admiral Vasha's trireme and he was overcome with joy when he was informed of his daughter's rescue and the complete slaughter of Odessa and her women. Now when General La Quint presented Vyakles with the severed head of Odessa the King became ecstatic and Lacuna and Lucia Vega noticed a few tears of happiness roll down his cheek so pleased was he. Holding the dead head, drained of life and light, Vyakles held it up by the blood soaked braids and smiled whispering face to face "Justice is Death for you Odessa, no more will you rise up against my nation or my family, no longer shall you fight." here he turned and gazed at General La Quint with a smile upon his face. "You have served myself, and Queen Thera, well, by killing this woman who in a cowardice act of brutality murdered my wife. You all, working together, with the violence of your hands, have brought a great satisfaction to my troubled heart. Such loyalty has made your King very proud." Vyakles congratulated his men then he placed Odessa's head on the end of a spear lifting it high above him for all aboard the ships and those camped upon the shore to see. "The murderer Odessa is dead!" here a cheer rose up from his hundreds of men gathered there. Then he took the macabre trophy of war placing it back in the goatskin pouch slinging it over his shoulder, for he would carry it out into battle as a talisman. Then he took in deep sigh of relief as he went over to Lacuna and Lucia Vega embracing them close to his broad chest, kissing them both upon the cheek. "Our Queen would be proud of your actions, as proud as I am pleased."
"We shall prove our faith and loyalty to you and your family by more than word of mouth." Lucia Vega whispered in the great King's ear allowing the happiness she felt to melt away a little of the bitterness of her heart.
Here Vyakles returned his attention to his army of men standing on the beach yelling out loudly above the roar of the crashing waves "Spartans!" he shouted his teeth glistening like fangs "We are a warring people! We through the centuries have learned that killing is never easy! But there is work to be done, this nation of Themiscyra must! Nay! THEY WILL BE ANNIHILATED! We shall.., to honor our most beloved Queen Thera, we will subject this barbarian nation to the force and might of our armed aggression! We shall put all of Themiscyra's inhabitants to the sword and destroy them all with fire. The utter destruction of this civilization is our first priority!" again a thunderous cheer rose up from all the King's men as Vyakles smiled with fiery rage burning in his dark eyes gazing off to the west, where the guards along the eastern gate were completely unaware of his presence for they were too distracted by the threat of the Greek warships out to the south and west. "Let us eat and rest ourselves this cold autumn evening and, before dawn arises, we shall go out and wage our bloody, violent war against the Themiscyrans! We, together, will wipe this race of warrior women from off the face of the Earth! We shall blot out this civilization from the records of history forever! We shall destroy them all, so no one living, or those yet to be born, will ever no that these women even existed!"
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